Razor blade sharpening machine



July so, 1935. c. A. CLAUSS 2,009,386

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1954 Ihvehtor Hi; A or'hey.

Charles A. Clauss,

tension of support I1.

Patented July 30, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,009,386 RAZOR liLADE SHARPENING MACHINE Charles A. Clauss, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 23, 1934, Serial No. 717,066

7 Claims.

My invention relates to razor blade sharpening machines and more particularly to a razor blade sharpening machine driven by an electric motor.

An object of my invention is to provide an im proved motor-driven razor blade sharpening machine which requires a minimum number of parts and which may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Another object of my invention is to provide a razor blade sharpening machine in which the sharpening rolls are arranged in a detachable roll unit that may be easily removed from the machine in case of defective or worn out parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide 9.

- motor-driven razor blade sharpening machine having a resilient vibration absorbing base which may be easily detached in order to facilitate removal or repair of the electric motor and switch contained therein.

A still further object of my invention is to pro- 'vide an improved form of sharpening roll for use in razor blade Sharpening machines of the type described.

What I consider to be novel and my invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a sharpener; Fig. 2 is a side elevation in cross section; Fig. 3 is an end elevation in cross section; Fig. 4 is a partial end elevation in cross section showing the roll supports in the open position.

In the drawing, I indicates a plate on which the sharpening roll unit is mounted. The sharpening roll unit includes a sheet metal frame I I in which sharpening rolls I3 and I4 are journaled by means of pins I5 and I6. Rollsupports I1 and I8, preferably made in the form' of protective covers for the sharpening rolls, arepivotally supported on pins I5 and I6. Sharpening rolls I9 and 2B are loosely journaled in roll supports I1 and I8 by pins 2| and 22. Relative radial movement of these rolls I9 and'20 is permitted by the oval openings or guides in which pins 2| and 22 are journaled as best shown in Fig. l.

Roll support I8 is biased to the open position by spring 23 which is secured to projections 24 and 25 on frame II and roll support I8 respectively. Roll supports I1 and I 8 are connected by a linkage preferably formed as. shown by a projection 26 on the lower extension of support I8 which rides in a curved slot 21 formed in the lower ex- The biasing effect of spring 23 is transmitted to support I! through the linkage described, also the pivotal movement,

of the roll supports I1 and I8 is synchronized thereby. A fiat spring member 28 is secured to plate It! by means of screw 29 as best shown in Fig. 3. Flat spring member 28 is provided with a slot 30 and an upwardly projecting thumb piece SI. Roll support I! is provided with a lower projection 32. When the roll support I1 is in the Vertical or operative position projection 32 falls in slot 30, thus retaining support I! in the vertical position. At the same time support I8 is also retained in the vertical position through linkage 2E2'I against the biasof spring 23. The roll supports are thus retained rigidly in the vertical or operative position and vibration is minimized. Since spring 23 is secured to the frame rather than between the roll supports it is subjected to a single stretch which furtherreduces vibration. When thumbpiece 3! is depressed by the operator the flat spring 28 is moved downward, releasing projection 32 from slot 30 and the roll supports I! and I8 are moved to the open or inoperative position, shown in Fig. 4, under the influence of biasing spring 23. Tapered pins 33 and 34 are provided for positioningthe razor blade between the rolls. These pins 33-and 34 are staked to frame I I by screws35 and36. The entire sharpening roll unit is secured to plate I!) by a single screw 31 as best shown in Fig. 2. Upondisengagement of screw 31 the entire sharpening unit may be removed, thus greatly facilitating the replacement of defective or worn out parts. Since the blade'supporting pins, 33 and 34 are a part of the sharpening roll unit adjustments are obviated which Wouldbe required if new rolls were simply put in.

The construction of the rolls is indicated in Fig. 2 in which roll I 9 is shown with its stropping or sharpening surface 38 embedded in a spiral groove in the wooden body member. The other sharpening rolls, I3, I4 and 20 are provided with similar stropping surfaces so positioned that the adjacent convolutions of one roll are spaced between. the adjacent convolutions on the other roll to compensate for Wear of the strapping surfaces. The ends of the wooden body members are tapered and metal ferrules 39 are forced on over the tapered ends also engaging and holding the ends of the sharpening material 38. Metal pins I5, l6, 2 I, 22 are driven into the ends of the wooden body of ;the roll. A sharpening roll is thus provided which is economical to manufacture and is assembled in such manner that the sharpening material is securely fastened t9 the body of the roll.

.Grooved collars 40 are carried by the pins 15,

l6, 2| and 22 and arranged to turn freely thereon. Spring members 4! and '42 are provided with hooked ends which engage the grooves in collars 4B. The collars are restrained from turning by the hooked ends of springs 45, 42 and wear of the latter is avoided which would be present if the springs were in direct contact with the rotating pins. Springs 4| and 42 in addition to compensating for the wearing of the sharpening or stropping surface provide a spring bias between the rolls which remains constant and provides any sharpening pressure desired to accomplish the sharpening oi the razor blade. As pointed out above, the oval openings in supports [7 and I8 in which rolls l9 and 20 are journaled permit relative radial movement of the sharpening rolls.

Motor 43 is supported on" the underside of plate I E! having self-aligning bearings 44 and 45 as is described in a appending application Serial No. 690,040, filed by Noble H. Wats and the present inventor, Charles A. Clauss, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The energization of motor 43 is controlled by contacts 46 and 41 which are carried by fiat spring members 48 and 49 respectively. Spring member 49 is moved to the operative position by projection 50 on the lower part of roll support l8. On the end of shaft of motor 43 a worm gear 52 is secured which engages gear 43 secured to roll I 3 and a corresponding gear secured to roll 14. Gear 54 secured to roll [9 meshes with gear 53 on roll l3, a similar pair of meshing gears being provided on rolls I4 and 20.

The motor and switching means are enclosed by a resilient base 55- preferably made of rubber. The base member 55 is hollow and cup-shaped, being provided with an interior groove 56 adjacent its upper edge. A tongue 5'! on the periphery of plate I0 engages the groove 55. Resilient base 55 is provided with vacuum cups 58 which hold the device steady while in operation. The use of a resilient base as shown is Very advantageous not only because of its vibration absorbing qualities but also in that it may be quickly applied or removed thus facilitating assembly, inspection and repair of the motor and switch.

In operation, the razor blade to be sharpened is placed on tapered pins 33 and 34. Roll supports I! and I8 are then grasped by the operator and moved to the vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. Projection 32 drops into slot 30 of spring member 28 thus retaining the roll supports and sharpening rolls in the operative position against the bias of spring 23. At the same time projection '50 on roll support 18 moves downward causing spring member '48 to be depressed and'thus closing contacts 46 and 4-! so that motor 43 is energized when the rolls are in the operative position. When the sharpening operation has been completed the operator pushes thumb piece 3| downward, releasing projection 32 from its engagementwith slot '30. Upon the release of projection 32 the roll supports 11 and I8 move to the open position, shown in Fig. 4, under the bias of spring 23 and through theintermediation of linkage 26- 21. At the same time projection 50'on rollsupport I 8 moves upward to allow contacts 46 and 41 to open so that motor 43 is deenergized.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a motor-driven razor blade sharpening machine is provided which may be easily assembled and facture and for purposes of repair. The razor blade sharpening machine described requires a small number of parts and is easy and safe to operate as well as being economical to manufacture. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

, 1. A razor blade sharpening machine comprising a plate, a motor and a detachable sharpening roll unit supported on opposite sides of said plate, said sharpening unit including a frame, a pair of sharpening rolls journaled in said frame, a pair of opposed roll supports pivoted on the ends of said. rolls, each of said supports carrying an additional sharpening roll journaled therein, means interconnecting said. motor and all of said rolls, a spring-secured to said frame and to one of said supports to bias the said support to the inoperative position, linkage means arranged to transmit the biasing force of said spring from said one Support to the second support, and a switch, controlling the circuit of said motor, movable to theclosed position by a projection on one 'of said supports when said support is moved to the operative position.

2. A razor bladesharpeningmachine comprising a plate, a motor and a detachable sharpening roll unit supported on opposite sides of said plate, said sharpening unit including a frame, a pair of sharpening rolls journaled in said frame, a pair of opposed roll supports pivoted on the ends of said rolls, each of said supports carrying an additional sharpening roll 'journaled therein, means interconnecting 'sa'id motor and all of said rolls, 'a spring secured to said frame and to one of said supports to bias the said support to the inoperative position, linkage means arranged to transmit the biasing force of said spring from said one support to the second support, a -m'anua lly releasable catch member in the path of a projeenon on one of said supports and engagea'b'l'e therewith when said supports are in the operative position, and a switch, controlling the ciredit of said motor, movable to the closed position by a projection on one of said supports when said support is moved to the operative position.

3. In a machine 'of the type-described, a sharpening roll unit comprising a, frame, a pair of sharpening rolls journaled in said frame, a pair of opposed roll supports pivoted on the ends of said rolls'each 'of'said supports carrying an addi'- tion'al sharpening roll -journaled therein, means to position a razor blade between said rolls, and linkage means to cause simultaneous movement 'of said supports including a projection on one of said supports positioned to slide in a curved slot provided in the other of said supports.

4. In a machine of the type described, sharpening roll unit comprising a frame, a pair of interconnecting said supports whereby the biasing force of said spring is transmitted to the second support. v

5. In a machine of the type described, a sharpening roll unit comprising 'a frame, a pair of sharpening rolls journ'aled in said frame, a pair "of opposed roll supports pivoted 'on the ends of said rolls, each of 'said supports carrying an additional sharpening roll .journaled therein, means to position a razor blade between said rolls, linkage means interconnecting said supports whereby their pivoted movement is synchronized, a projection on one of said supports and a spring biased catch member engageable with said projection to prevent rotation of said supports.

6. In a machine of the type described, a sharpening roll unit comprising a frame, a pair of sharpening rolls journaled in said frame, a pair of opposed roll supports pivoted on the ends of said rolls, each of said supports carrying an additional sharpening roll journaled therein, means to position a razor blade between said rolls, linkage means interconnecting said supports, a spring bias between one of said supports and said frame and a catch member engageable each end of said rolls and biasing means engaging said collars to urge adjacent rolls into engagement.

CHARLES A. CLAUSS. 

